Central College

Central College's published cost of attendance is $37,773. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $16,231, middle-income families pay around $19,532, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,165.

Azimuth ranks Central College #1083 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Central College's aid structure combines need-based and merit components. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA.

Merit scholarships are available for qualifying students, and need-based aid is awarded to close the gap between cost and family resources where demonstrated need exists. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,984, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,100; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,693, median federal debt of $26,984 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Central College earn median 4-year earnings of $55,693, placing Central College in the 30.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,673 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Central College in the 30.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Central College #783 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Central College's program portfolio centers on Biological Sciences, which shapes the institution's earnings profile.

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences is the largest program with 39 graduates. Among the most popular fields, Business Administration enrolls 31 students and leads to median 4-year earnings of $68,021, earning 1.0x the national benchmark for the field.

The Teacher Education program graduates 19 students with median 4-year earnings of $50,707, at 1.1x the national benchmark. Biology, General and Sociology round out the top programs, with 19 and 17 graduates respectively earning $59,597 and $51,996 four years after enrollment.

Central College's program mix is anchored in the biological sciences, reflecting the institution's identity as a liberal arts college with particular strength in life sciences and health-related fields. Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences is the largest program with 39 graduates, followed by Business Administration with 31 graduates earning median earnings of $68,021 four years after enrollment, Teacher Education with 19 graduates earning $50,707, Biology, General with 19 graduates earning $59,597, and Sociology with 17 graduates earning $51,996.

The concentration in Biological Sciences — accounting for 20% of degrees — is complemented by Social Sciences at 12% and Education at 9%, creating a balanced liberal arts portfolio with particular depth in health sciences. The highest-earning programs at Central College reflect the institution's strength in applied health and science fields.

Computer Science leads with median earnings of $89,838 four years after enrollment across 8 graduates, followed by Accounting with 13 graduates earning $86,868, Business Administration with 31 graduates earning $68,021, Biology, General with 19 graduates earning $59,597, and Psychology, General with 16 graduates earning $56,941. These programs span both high-mobility direct-to-workforce pathways in fields like nursing and business, where graduates enter stable, in-demand roles immediately, and grad-school-dependent pathways in biology and chemistry, where four-year earnings reflect early-career outcomes before many students continue to graduate or professional school.

Central College graduates across 19 programs, with 0 meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold. The institution's program portfolio supports outcomes aligned with the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/), particularly in health sciences and applied sciences where employer demand remains strong.

As a liberal arts college, Central College emphasizes breadth alongside depth, allowing students to combine major field study with coursework across disciplines — a structure that supports both specialized preparation in high-earning fields and the adaptability valued in evolving labor markets.